Cape Town Blitz fast bowler Anrich Nortje was sold to the Kolkata Knight Riders at Tuesday’s Indian Premier League player auction.

Nortje impressed through the opening fixtures of the inaugural Mzansi Super League last month, when he opened the bowling alongside Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn, but was later sidelined by injury.

‘Anrich really gets me excited. We have a rich history of fast bowlers in this country. He is not going to have a lot of matches televised when he is playing for the Warriors. He could be a multi-millionaire by the end of December when the IPL auction gets underway,’ said Steyn.

He will work alongside former Proteas all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who is the head coach of the Knight Riders, at the 2019 IPL.

‘This auction will be a lot less work, but still important. We need back-up players, because it’s a World Cup year, and we need back-up players for those guys who might be leaving for the World Cup,’ said Kallis earlier this year.

‘We need to be smart about how we go about our choices. I’m happy with the balance of the side. We have good spinners and are looking at some more pace bowlers now. Our bowling unit can adapt well.’

Ex-Proteas batsman Rilee Rossouw, meanwhile, went unsold. Rossouw was also part of the recent MSL in South Africa, where he represented the Tshwane Spartans. Fellow Kolpak cricketer Hardus Viljoen was purchased by the Kings XI Punjab.

Photo: Gallo